NCAA tournament preview: South Regional matchups

By Tribune staff reports

Mar 26, 2014 | 5:54 PM

NCAA tournament preview: South Regional matchups — Florida center Patric Young plays bigger and more athletic than his 6-foot-9 frame. Here he cuts off a drive by Pittsburgh guard Lamar Patterson during a third-round game in the NCAA tournament on Saturday. (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)

No. 4 UCLA (28-8) vs. No. 1 Florida (34-2)

Thursday, 6:45 p.m. TV: Channel 2; Radio: 1150.

Update: This is a step up in NCAA tournament class for UCLA, which had few stressful moments in pummeling Tulsa and Stephen F. Austin last weekend. The Gators are the No. 1-seeded team in the tournament. Florida has held opponents to fewer than 60 points in 20 of 36 games this season. "This is the best defensive team we've faced," UCLA forward David Wear said. "They are Arizona with a press." The Gators use a full-court press to goose the tempo, but they probably won't have to prompt UCLA to run. Kyle Anderson directs things for UCLA as a 6-foot-9 point guard. "He's definitely unique to cover," Florida guard Scottie Wilbekin said. "We just have to build walls, help each other and keep him out of the lane." The Gators have Patric Young, who is 6-9, and Will Yeguete, who is 6-8, to help with that, and the Bruins have had trouble against teams with size. UCLA may have to play more zone in this game to offset the physical inside game of the Gators. Florida will need strong games from its perimeter players. Guard Michael Frazier II shoots 44% from three-point range.

—Chris Foster

STARTERS

FLORIDA; Ht; Wt; PPG; P; UCLA; Ht; Wt; PPG

Michael Frazier II; 6-4; 199; 12.4; G; Norman Powell; 6-4; 215; 11.5

Casey Prather; 6-6; 212; 14.0; G; Jordan Adams; 6-5; 220; 17.4

Scottie Wilbekin; 6-2; 176; 13.1; G; Kyle Anderson; 6-9; 230; 14.7

Will Yeguete; 6-8; 230; 4.9; F; Travis Wear; 6-10; 230; 7.0

Patric Young; 6-9; 240; 10.9; F; David Wear; 6-10; 230; 6.9

RESERVES

DeVon Walker; 6-6; 195; 2.8; F/G; Zach LaVine; 6-5; 180; 9.6

Kasey Hill; 6-1; 181; 5.6; G; Bryce Alford; 6-3; 180; 8.1

Dorian Finney-Smith; 6-8; 212; 9.2; F; Tony Parker; 6-9; 255; 6.9

No. 10 Stanford (23-12) vs. No. 11 Dayton (25-10)

Thursday, 4:15 p.m. TV: Channel 2.

Update: Dayton's swarming man-to-man defense held Ohio State and Syracuse to fewer than 60 points in the Flyers' two tournament victories. Stanford kept New Mexico and Kansas below 60 points as well. Watch Stanford's Dwight Powell, a versatile player who can score from inside and out — when he's not in foul trouble. Dayton forward Dyshawn Pierre scored 14 points in the victory over Syracuse.

—Shannon Ryan